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PFT: Cleo Lemon's backer in San Diego was Schottenheimer

ckparrothead

ckparrothead

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http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

SCHOTTENHEIMER SOUR ABOUT LEMON DEAL

Earlier this week, we reported that some members of the Chargers' organization were "livid" about the team's decision to trade third-string quarterback Cleo Lemon to the Dolphins.

As it turns out, a pretty key member of the operation didn't like it.

The head coach.

According to Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com, Marty Schottenheimer didn't know about the trade until it happened.

To make matters worse, Schottenheimer told the team that he had no idea the trade was coming -- and that he wasn't happy about the decision.

This development doesn't bode well for the relationship between Schottenheimer and G.M. A.J. "Smiling is for ******* . . . and *****" Smith. Nor should it.

Really, why in the hell would Smith send a guy packing without at least giving the coach a head's up? Whatever the excuse, the G.M. failed to give the head coach basic respect.

And that's not good. It's a sign of a power struggle in the organization, and it surely will cause the players and staff to push their loyalties in one direction or the other.

Of course, Schottenheimer didn't make things any better by undermining Smith in front of the team.

From what we've heard, the Lemon trade has its roots in a tug-o-war between Smith and Schottenheimer regarding former backup Doug Flutie and Lemon. Flutie was Smith's guy, and Lemon was Schottenheimer's guy. The team kept four quarterbacks a year ago primarily because the head coach wanted to keep Lemon around.

So the decision of Smith to ship to South Florida without telling Schottenheimer is even more of a slap in the head coach's face than it might appear at first glance.

The other problem here is that, if Smith is willing to trade Lemon behind Schottenheimer's back, the coach and the team now likely will waste mental and emotional energy worrying about what else Smith is doing.

Marty was on thin ice before last year's sudden resurgence, and he was the coach before Smith inherited the G.M. gig when John Butler died. Our guess, then, is that Smith's next goal is to hire his own head coach.

To get there, however, the one who's already there needs to clear out. And Smith's ability to move Lemon without Schottenheimer's knowledge or input suggests that A.J. is in position to make it happen, if/when he chooses to do so.
Click to expand...

Also, Jay Glazer's original report can be seen here:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5017814

Marty sour on lemon deal: Keep an eye on the relationship between Chargers GM A.J. Smith and Chargers head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Chargers players say that this week, Schottenheimer addressed the team in a meeting  beginning with news to the entire squad that he had no idea about the Cleo Lemon trade. Schottenheimer informed the team that the deal was done without his knowledge, and the coach was clearly not happy about it.

Lemon isn't a big name but was very well liked inside that locker room.
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PFT had originally reported that one of their sources told them that there were some folks within the Chargers organization that were not happy at all about Cleo Lemon being traded for a mere 6th round pick plus AJ Feeley. I asked Florio how solid he was on that source being right and he gave him an A- as opposed to the A+++ of the source that told him that Miami had been onto Lemon for months and viewed him in high regard.

Anyway, it turns out PFT was right. Lemon's backer was Schottenheimer...and I would take this news as a positive where it concerns Cleo Lemon.

The reason why all trades have to be viewed skeptically is because you have to ask the question, "Why are they trading him?" Generally the team with the player on their roster knows the player better than the team trying to trade for him, so you have to realize that when a team is trading a guy it has to be for a reason.

In this case, it would appear the coaches liked Cleo Lemon, he was well-liked in the locker room, but AJ Smith dealt him as part of a p!ssing match between Smith and Schottenheimer. Apparently, Lemon became the 4th QB on the roster last year because Schottenheimer wanted him over Flutie, and Smith wanted Flutie.

Again, this is not evidence that Cleo Lemon is GOING to be a good QB. This is merely chopping away one of the many things that cause questions about a guy.
 
ckparrothead said:
http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm



Also, Jay Glazer's original report can be seen here:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5017814



PFT had originally reported that one of their sources told them that there were some folks within the Chargers organization that were not happy at all about Cleo Lemon being traded for a mere 6th round pick plus AJ Feeley. I asked Florio how solid he was on that source being right and he gave him an A- as opposed to the A+++ of the source that told him that Miami had been onto Lemon for months and viewed him in high regard.

Anyway, it turns out PFT was right. Lemon's backer was Schottenheimer...and I would take this news as a positive where it concerns Cleo Lemon.

The reason why all trades have to be viewed skeptically is because you have to ask the question, "Why are they trading him?" Generally the team with the player on their roster knows the player better than the team trying to trade for him, so you have to realize that when a team is trading a guy it has to be for a reason.

In this case, it would appear the coaches liked Cleo Lemon, he was well-liked in the locker room, but AJ Smith dealt him as part of a p!ssing match between Smith and Schottenheimer. Apparently, Lemon became the 4th QB on the roster last year because Schottenheimer wanted him over Flutie, and Smith wanted Flutie.

Again, this is not evidence that Cleo Lemon is GOING to be a good QB. This is merely chopping away one of the many things that cause questions about a guy.
Click to expand...

I guess we'll find out about the Miami source if Cleo does end up starting towards the end of the season
 
It's nice to know that a TWO coaches that I highly respect, Saban and Schottenheimer, are Lemon fans.
 
Dudeman said:
I guess we'll find out about the Miami source if Cleo does end up starting towards the end of the season
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The Miami source didn't say Cleo would end up starting by the end of the season. He said that they have high hopes for him and expect him to COMPETE for the start next year...and that they scouted him for months and think they got a steal.
 
I want to see Sage starting next week(unless Saban knows something we dont and feels hes completley incompetent) and have his fair share of games to show what he has. No calling for his head after 1 bad game.

If he too fails i hope to see Cleo finish off the year.
 
DiepatriotsDie said:
It's nice to know that a TWO coaches that I highly respect, Saban and Schottenheimer, are Lemon fans.
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I agree with you when your getting respect from Saban and Schottenheimer it has to be good news
 
Much ado about nothing. Lemon won't ever start here so who cares. The guy will be a career back-up. The only reason he's on our roster was to get rid of Feeley and his contract.
 
PhinsOwnU said:
Much ado about nothing. Lemon won't ever start here so who cares. The guy will be a career back-up. The only reason he's on our roster was to get rid of Feeley and his contract.
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It's already been pointed out time and time again that they could have just as easily cut Feeley. The real deal was a 6th for Lemon. Feeley was the after thought throw in. Lemon might project to be at the least our backup QB next year which was what San Diego was grooming him for.
 
IMO threads like this are a testimony as to how desperate Phins fans have become to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

The trade for Cleo Lemon is a non event for the future of this franchise. This guy showed little flashes of any talent in college and everyone is going crazy over him because of his play late in preseason games. As you all recall, many on here thought Brock Berlin was the second coming of Joe Montana because of his performance against practice squad players late in preseason games.

AJ Feeley was the proverbial "hot potato" to Saban and the Phins organization. They wanted to get rid of him so bad they ended up dropping their pants and losing a 6th round pick just to switch 3rd string QB's.

Yet fans are so desperate to grab onto anything, you've got a thread quoting PFT about how Cleo was one of Marty's favorites as proof to this being a potential blockbuster trade for the future of the Phins QB position.
Well whooptie!

How bout Peter King on ESPN being at a loss for words when asked to give further input on why Miami gave up a 6th round pick in addition to Feeley for Lemon.
He could'nt fathom what they were thinking.

Who's right?
Does it matter?
Not in my opinion.
All signs point to this being a lateral move and I see no reason why Cleo has any better shot at becoming the starting QB of the Phins than any other journeyman QB you could insert the name of here.

In addition, the focus of these comments from Fox Sports Glazer clearly lean more to Marty being upset that the GM made a move without his knowledge rather than the controversy being over who was involved in that trade.

The future QB of the Phins is not on this roster right now, that you can bank on!
 
I think if Lemon can be a solid backup then the 6th rounder was a good trade. If he is cut next year then it was stupid plain and simple.
Will be interesting to see how things shape up with Marty in SD. They have a tough schedule and could easily finish with 8 or maybe 7 wins. That would be a pretty big step back, and if as the article claims the GM doesnt like Schotty then he could be a gonner in the offseason. I cant blame the GM, Schotty coaches scared he is just a notch above Wannestadt. Give him great talent he will make the playoffs but he isnt a guy that takes teams to the next level.
 
PhinsOwnU said:
Much ado about nothing. Lemon won't ever start here so who cares. The guy will be a career back-up. The only reason he's on our roster was to get rid of Feeley and his contract.
Click to expand...

You must have great insight into the Dolphins organization. Did Saban tell you this personally? :shakeno:
 
Lemon is basically the "Tom Brady QB" Saban and Mueller would've drafted in the 6th (or so) round of next year's draft anyway (Peter King should've known that). The only difference is that he's far closer to starting in the NFL than some guy we would've drafted in the 6th, which means if he plays well at some point this year, we may not have to make QB such a high priority in the offseason. At least we'll be finding out SOMEthing about the future of the QB position THIS year rather than having to wait until next. Good move.

And what it tells me too is that they don't believe Sage Rosenfels is starting QB material, or else HE would've been the guy they found out about this year. Then again that's what every coaching staff here has thought for the past three years.
 
i hope he gets a chance real soon IF our qbs are still having problems
 
I don't think the coaches think he will come in and start i think the coaches think they got a coachable kid that could develope into something and if he doesn't they don't loose much. This is simply a move to have a young guy with some potential on our roster. It's like betting on the longshot in horse racing, if you don't win you only loose $5 but if you win you make $100, it's worth the risk.
 
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